By Syed Mussarat Khalil
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Pakistan Haj Volunteer Group’s (PHVG) volunteer Abrar Quraishi died in a tragic road accident while performing his duties of guiding pilgrims in Muzdalifah area during the Haj 1437H. PHVG senior management, team members and other volunteers have expressed their condolences and are grieving over the loss of their colleague.
A number of community members also expressed their sorrow and offered condolences to the family of Abrar at his residence near Masjid Al-Taawun Aziziyah district here.
Abrar’s funeral prayer was offered in Holy Haram of Makkah and he was laid to rest in the Al-Sharaya cemetery.
Abrar arrived in Saudi Arabia from Rawalpindi in 1979. Until 1996 he was associated with the executive branch of Saudi Aramco. Later, he also served in various companies.
Since last few years he had dedicated his life to preaching the religion and social work. He also participated in various charitable activities in the community.
Abrar will live forever in the hearts of PHVG volunteers for his selfless service, and the administration of the group has decided to launch a welfare scheme to honor the martyrdom of Abrar, a PHVG statement said.
His son Umair, who came from the Eastern Province city Al-Khobar to celebrate Eid-Al Adha with his family, said, “My father joined PHVG this year and insisted that he be sent to the sacred sites to serve the pilgrims.”
Abrar, 68, is survived by a wife, a son and a daughter. His wife was a teacher in Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ), Aziziyah, for a long time.
45 teams serve pilgrims
The Jeddah-based Pakistan Haj Volunteers Group (PHVG) started its operation at Mina from 9th, Zul-Hijjah 1437H with the support and in collaboration of World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) and Pakistan Haj Mission.
Forty-five trained teams of volunteers served the pilgrims. They operated at different areas of Makkah and Mina to serve and guide the guests of Allah.
These teams provided logistics, transportation, food, accommodation and guidance at Jamarat to the pilgrims. The volunteers also helped out and provided wheel chairs to the elderly, ill and old pilgrims from Mina to Makkah for Tawaf-e-Ziarah.
PVHG is a non-governmental and non-political body, which serves Haj pilgrims without any discrimination. As a particular aim, it is solely focused on service to attain the blessings of Allah in this world and in the hereafter.
The PHVG volunteers also take care of those sick pilgrims who are admitted in the hospitals for treatments before the start of Haj. The PHVG operation remained till 12th Zul-Hijjah 1437H.
